I'm Adopted: Vengeance Edition.

Matt's POV

She couldn't even say my name. She couldn't hear Maddy's name. Her entire mental breakdown broke my heart, and I didn't think it could break past the vaporized state it had been in since she'd left. I tried to fill the car ride with converstaion, and she helped by responding and trying to laugh at my sad attempts of jokes. But as we pulled up to Zack's house I couldn't help but hate the fact she had no idea and no want to know about Maddy. I mean... whatever helps you sleep at night.

"Well, here we are.. I'll walk you in." I got out and rushed over to open her door, which wasn't hard to do since she could barely figure out her seatbelt. "Here." I laughed and reached over her lap, clocking the button for her "It sticks sometimes." I looked up as she tucked her hair behind her ears, laughing.

"I'm just retarded." She hopped out, carrying her bag with her. I snagged it from her arm and smiled. "I can carry it-"

"I know." I smiled and lead the way to Zack's door "He... he should be home. I mean.. he has no other friends so.." I laughed as Jackie smiled, not thinking I noticed. But I did. I knocked on the door and heard a yell, so I swung it open "HEY SHIT FOR BRAINS. GUESS WHAT I FOUND."

Zack ran down the stairs "What-" He stopped, his socks sliding across the flooring, his eyes wide "Jackie?" He asked "What... How?" He looked at me, then he pulled out his phone agressivly "FUCKING A FUCK FUCK FUCK! HOW COULD I FORGET THAT?!" He slammed his phone into his forehead. "I'm so sorry-"

"Don't be." Jackie laughed as he embraced her in a tight hug, "It's fine, I was going to take a bus, but..." She paused "This goon somehow ended up in Santa Barbara and kidnapped me." She rolled her eyes.

"What were you doing down there?" Zack eyed me.

"Dropping my parents off." I answered "They thought SB Bus Station was better than Huntington to go to-"

"Vegas, right." Zack nodded "Ok... but... OH MY GOD I'M SO SORRY." He hugged Jackie again.

She pulled away and tucked her hair back again "It's fine, Zack, I can deal. I was going to deal. I'm fine." She laughed "So uhm... should I call mom and have her come get me.. or...?" She asked.

"You aren't going there." Zack shook his head "Uhm... I haven't talked to them in like five months." His eyes scanned mine and I shook my head "We need to talk... Jackie.. Sit down."

She nodded and grabbed her bag from my hands, smiling "I have to pee."

"Oh, right, long car ride. Sorry." Zack shook his head "Second door on the left." He pointed up the stairs as she scampered away. He looked back at me "You didn't tell her? And what the fuck are you doing giving her a ride??" He whispered angrily "I mean..." He toned back "Thanks, but..." He shook his head.

"Listen, I know. I'm not trying anything. She's your sister and I know where we," I gestured to the bathroom "Stand, and that's nowhere." We both laughed "And no I didn't tell her. I mentioned.." I quieted my voice "I mentioned Maddy's name and she lost it." His eyes widened "She has meds she takes, I think it's a downer, because she was shaking for probably ten minutes. I don't... I don't think she's come to terms with anything but not doing drugs."

"She still has vices?" Zack asked.

"She can't even say my name." I sighed as I heard her coming down the hall "But, I mean... we can track that last." I shrugged as Zack rolled his eyes.

"Retard." He laughed as Jackie skipped in.

"Ok." She sat down and put her hands between her knees, her body eerily more calm than she had been before.

Zack and I sat down across from her and Zack cleared his throat "So, Jackie." He paused "I need you to listen, and I'm sorry, but I need you to stay down here with me." He nodded to her as she nodded slowly "Don't flip out..."

"Ok." She smiled "What's up?" She looked between us "What's wrong?" She cocked her head to the side. Something was wrong, either she was going to flip shit or she had taken more meds in the bathroom to stay calm... I might have to guess the second.

"Mom and Dad..." He started as she fiddled her fingers between her knees "They... They gave Maddy," She flinched but gritted her teeth together beneath closed lips and partially forced a smile "up for adoption." He finished. Jackie's eyes dulled and her lips slowly fell, parted, and a gasp entered her lungs "Jackie-"

"Oh." She breathed back out. "Oh..." She nodded her head slowly, signalling she was taking it in. "Oh."

"Are you... are you ok?" Zack asked carefully.

There was a suddenly knock on the door and it flew open "I hope you guys are here because there's cars, and we had a brilliant idea for a song and-... JACKIE?!"

Her eyes trained on Zack, tears brimming as Brian and Jimmy barelled over and overtook her body in a double sided hug. Tears slowly filtered down her pale cheeks as they continued hugging her, exclaiming how excited they were that she was home finally, all the while her eyes were trained on Zack's.

"Guys... GUYS!" I Shouted, earning them both retreating. Brian looked over her face, then to Zack.

"I... I need to pee." Jackie stood up and almost tripped over Jimmy's legs "Sorry.. I.." I stumbled again.

"Woah there," Jimmy grabbed her arm.

She snaked it back and stared at him "I'm sorry, I have to use the bathroom.." She regained her balance and ran towards the front door.

"Fuck." Zack stood "Jackie... JACKIE!" He shouted.

"She'll be fine." I sat him back down as Brian and Jim stared at us.

"Uhm... she's back? What'd you tell her? Why is Matt here too?" Brian rifled off.

"She was discharged today. Maddy's got adopted. He found her and drove her home because I'm a shit head and forgot." Zack put his head in his hands. "She.."

"She can't say his name, she can't even hear her's, she's on medication for hyper-anxiety and over stress due to PTSD from addiction and using to much drugs."

We all looked up as Jackie slowly walked back over.

"And she's sorry for running away and freaking out again.." She sat down on the floor... "I... I'm not..." She winced "I can't yet."

"It's ok." I looked between her and Zack "We'll be here for you. Through it all."

"Thanks but... I.." She looked around and laughed under her breath "That'll take some getting used to."

"Believe me, it is here too." I rested my head in my hands as she stood up "But hey," I looked up at her. Her eyes dulled again, I knew what she thought was coming "We don't have any pressure to be together anymore. We can do whatever we want."

"Oh." She smiled a little "That's true."

"Wow, I didn't anticipate you taking that so well." Brian laughed as my heart ached after her words.

"Yah, I mean... perfect circumstances right? I go into rehab for drug addiction, my parents pretty much sell my kid, I come out with severly diagnosed PTSD, an anxiety problem I have to medicate for, and my ex-fiance jokes about our non-pressured situation to be in a stressful relationship that was pretty much the stem and roots of our addicitons." She looked up and nodded "I mean... I'd say today's been a ten so far." She set her jaw and rolled her eyes.

"Jackie, we're just trying to help." Zack sighed "Come one."

"I know, I'm sorry. Listen... past is the past, can't change it now. Gotta live with it right? So... Who wants to party?" She smiled "Like, I haven't seen these goofballs in six months, I need my fix." She smirked as Jimmy smiled "I could potentially use a re-do of the surprise hug attack from earlier." She giggled as Jimmy sprung up and hugged her, picking her up and spinning her around.

"I missed you so much best buddy." He smiled and kissed the top of her head "I'm so so sooo happy you're back and healthy and we get to be best buds again and have fun and movie parties!"

"I'm so happy to have you back too Jimbo." She smiled and laughed as Brian hugged them both, stopping the spinning.

"I missed you." He stole Jackie from Jimmy's arms but set her on the ground, hugging her tight. "So much."

"I missed you too, Bri." She whispered into his chest along with something else I couldn't hear, but he laughed at it so I assumed it was nothing to worry about. She backed up and looked at me, rolling her eyes as I smiled "I guess I missed you too... a little." She scrunched her nose with a smile as I stood up, opening my arms. She walked over with hers open and let her face collide with my chest, giggling under her breath.

"I'm so glad you're ok." I folded my arms around her, feeling her skin flinch slightly but then relax "Missed you.."

"I'm so glad to be home." She whispered against my shirt and took a deep breath "So glad.." She looked up "I missed you guys so much, I can't wait for the best party ever tonight." She smiled as Zack shouted.

"I have to call everyone! This is gonna be crazy!" He smiled "I can't wait, my baby sisters back!"

Jackie smiled as she settled under my arm, letting me hold her to my side as Zack made phone calls and arranged the party. I glanced down at Jackie's amused smile as Brian shouted in laughs on the phone to Michelle and Jimmy ran around making a list of food we'd need. I couldn't help but smile at the sight of her face lighting up. I had to check myself because all I wanted to do was kiss her. Even though I knew that wouldn't happen, I was still more than excited she was back. Together or not, she was home, she was a blast to be around, and if we could manage to be friends I'd be happy for that.